Reclaiming local democracy : a progressive future for local government / Ines Newman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Newman, Ines, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Local government--Great Britain--History--21st century.

Local government.

Democracy--Great Britain--History--21st century.

Democracy.

History.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

xix, 232 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Bristol, UK ; Chicago, IL : Policy Press, 2014.

Summary:

Austerity has left local government struggling to meet the demands for local services. In this context, this book asks 'what are the fundamental principles that should guide decision-making by local councillors and officers?'. It seeks to move the agenda from 'what works?' to 'what should local government do?' and 'how will its policies impact on social justice and local democracy?'. Reclaiming local democracy examines the politics of human need and argues that local government should provide a voice for those that lack power, it avoids the dry, familiar debate about what structures and powers local government should have, instead seeking to energise all concerned to re-engage with a political and ethical approach. Written in a persuasive and accessible way, the book examines how local government can develop active citizens and make a difference to the well-being of those in disadvantaged areas - truly 'reclaiming local democracy'. Combining theory and international practice, it will be relevant for councillors, policy officers and activists in the third sector, as well as academics and students in politics and social policy Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

The argument 2

2 Learning from history 7

The 'good city': Victorian paternalism 8

Keynesian welfare state 12

The welfare state under pressure 14

The New Right 17

Creative autonomy and the new urban Left 19

Why did this change happen? 24

New Labour 28

The 2010 Coalition Government and localism 33

Conclusion 36

3 Injustice 39

Current government policy 39

Injustice 49

Neo-liberalism and the autonomy of the local state 52

The inadequacies of current solutions 56

Partnership and joined-up governance 58

Public value 63

The relational state 65

Conclusion 70

4 An ethical framework for local government 73

Does the policy rest on a firm ethical foundation? 74

Does the policy reinforce mutual obligations through universal provision? 76

Does the policy address rights? 79

Does the policy address distributive justice? 84

Does the policy lead to a deeper understanding of citizenship and the common good? 88

Does the policy address recognition and emancipation? 90

Does the policy help professionals deal with day-to-day ethical problems? 92

Does the policy consider future generations and promote sustainability? 95

Conclusion 99

5 Reclaiming local democracy 101

Defining democracy, accountability and participation 102

Democracy is not in terminal decline but the model of democratic elitism is dominant 104

Representative and participative democracy 108

Reframing local democracy 113

How councillors can enhance participatory democracy 119

Note on councillors and representative democracy 132

Conclusion 133

6 Recapturing discourse 135

Is language important? 135

Economic and market discourse 140

Responsibility discourse 147

Motherhood and apple pie discourse 152

Alternative discourse strategies 155

Conclusion 160

7 The future 165

Bringing together the key arguments of the book 165

Starting from an ethical framework 167

Working for national transformation with external social movements 171

Reclaiming capacity 174

Reclaiming autonomy 180

Democracy in the workplace 184

Supporting citizen agency 190

Final thoughts 193.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 195-219) and index.

ISBN:

9781447308904

1447308905

9781447308911

1447308913

OCLC:

859583879